When USF takes to the floor for the 2000-2001 campaign, the Lady Dons will have a decidedly different look on the sidelines and the backcourt. After 13 years of sharing head coaching duties with her husband Bill, USF's first All-American takes over as head coach of the Lady Dons for the upcoming season. As one of a handful of husband and wife coaching tandems in Division I history, Bill and Mary compiled an impressive record of accomplishments, highlighted by three NCAA Tournament appearances and a storied run to the 1996 Sweet Sixteen. Along the way, the Nepfels accumulated 196 victories - most in program history. Last season USF improved over the 1998-99 season with dramatic victories against eventual Pac-10 Champions and #18 Oregon and a convincing blowout of NCAA Tournament qualifier, Pepperdine.

Now Hile-Nepfel prepares to lead her young team back into contention in the tough West Coast Conference. After posting a modest five game turnaround from the 1998-99 season, USF returns three starters and four key reserves, who played substantial minutes last year. Leading the way for the Lady Dons in All-WCC Honorable Mention selection, sophomore forward Carey Sauer who led USF in scoring (11.0) and ranked second on the team in rebounding (5.3) after starting every game in her first year on the Hilltop. Sauer led the team in scoring 11 times and posted two double-doubles and ranked second in the WCC in free throw percentage (.840). Junior guard Lindsey Huff battled back from an ACL injury suffered after earning 1997-98 WCC Freshman of the Year honors and rebounded to rank second on the team in scoring (9.0), fourth in the WCC in assists (3.9) and set the league standard in turnover to assist ration (1.3). Huff also ranked among Division I leaders for most of the season in 3-point field goal percentage and finished the season shooting at a .406 clip from long distance. Junior guard Melanie Turner returns as a key reserve from last season and entered the starting lineup at the end of the season. In her second season with the Lady Dons, Turner ranked fourth on the team in scoring (7.1) and fifth in rebounding (3.0). During WCC play, Turner turned it up and ranked second on the team in scoring (8.6) and led the team in scoring on three occasions, reaching double-figures 10 times.

A pair of seniors figure to make an impact this season for USF. Center Kim Whisler made significant contributions for USF on the low block last season and turned in a double-double performance against San Diego. Whisler ranked fourth on the team in rebounding (3.7) was second in blocked shots (17). Forward Cortney Keegan started 20 games in her first year on the Hilltop and ranked third on the team in rebounding (4.5) and led the team at the charity stripe (.911) and made 19 straight at one point during the season.

Junior forward Molly Shanley returns for USF after a successful summer league season and sophomore guard Lisa Whiteside gained valuable experience in the backcourt last season during her freshman campaign. Sophomore off-guard Jennifer Anderson also brings her long range shooting back for another season. All three figure to play an important role this year. The Lady Dons should also benefit from the anticipated return of redshirt freshman center Mary Jane Krueger, who struggled through injuries but showed flashes of brilliance in practice.

San Francisco also welcomes a stellar recruiting class to the Hilltop, highlighted by Kodak All-American guard, sophomore Alicia Hernandez. Hernandez, one of just ten selected to the All-American squad, averaged 20.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.6 steals per game at Contra Costa College last season. Junior guard Renae Hofmann transfers to USF after propelling Ventura College to a 38-0 record and the 1999-2000 California State Junior College Championship. Hofmann earned State Tournament MVP honors after averaging 13.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game during her sophomore season. Both are expected to challenge for significant playing time and increase the competitiveness of the entire team with their big game experience.

USF will have many big games in the 2000-2001 season with games against eight post season qualifiers - five in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. During the non-conference schedule alone, the Lady Dons travel to Palo Alto for a Bay Area confrontation against perennial national power Stanford and then head to Iowa for a showdown against the Cyclones of Iowa State. San Francisco closes out 2000 in Eugene, Oregon with a showdown of back-to-back Pac-10 Champion Oregon at MacArthur Court, Dec. 30.

Once the league schedule opens in January, the West Coast Conference race should be intense. Regular season champion Santa Clara returns after earning a NWIT bid. San Diego won its second WCC Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, while Pepperdine received an NCAA at-large berth. Saint Mary's College also qualified for the NWIT marking the second year in a row and just the fourth time in WCC history four league schools advanced to postseason play. Adding to the interest for the upcoming season is three coaching changes as the Broncos and Gaels turn the reigns over to their top assistants, while Gonzaga starts over with former Saint Mary's head coach, Kelly Graves.

San Francisco figures to be in the equation for the conference race with a solid core of returning letterwinners and an exciting recruiting class, boasting the first incoming Kodak All-American in program history, who will be coached by the first Lady Don to earn All-American honors. USF is poised for greatness in the new millennium.